Bones shifted uncomfortably and cast a dark glance at Dane, but did not interrupt.
“I do not think they wanted to leave, frankly. They were treated well, and Jack was even permitted to marry into the Barcid family, which had been kept to a pure Punic bloodline. I have the rare honor to be descended both from the great Percy Fawcett and the legendary Hannibal.”
“You would be a famous man in the outside world.” Dane smiled. “Have you ever been tempted to leave?”
“No.” Fawcett’s face darkened. “I have not.”
Hamilcar suddenly rose. “You will be given food and drink and a place to stay.”
“If I may be so bold.” Dane had no idea how to address this man. If there was an honorific due him, he didn’t know what it was. “Please do not underestimate the men who are after us. They are well-armed and I seriously doubt they care who they kill as long as they get what they came for.” He glanced at Tam, who remained silent. “My friends and I are trained soldiers. We can help you defend yourselves.”
“I will consider your words.” Hamilcar made a back-handed gesture, like brushing away an insect, and inclined his head toward the door.
“I’ll show you around.” Thomas stood, nervously brushed invisible dirt from his pants, and ushered them out the door.
The sun was an orange ball perched on the edge of the horizon as they stepped out into the light. Dane looked around, unwilling to relax. He and the others had not put up a fight when they met the protectors of Kephises, but this would not be true of ScanoGen. They would be looking for a fight, and though they would most likely be on the lookout for Maddock’s group, if they encountered anyone from Kephises, they would probably shoot first and ask questions later.
“I get the impression they think they’re going to keep us here.” Bones kept his voice low so that no one else could hear.
Dane nodded. Yet another reason they needed to retrieve their weapons as soon as possible. But how to do it without coming into open conflict with people they would prefer to protect?
Kennedy stood in the shadows at the end of the tunnel, letting the darkness and the vegetation conceal his presence. He could not make out much from this vantage point, but he could see there was some sort of valley or canyon below them, and what looked like a pyramid in the distance.
“See anything?” Smithson whispered.
“Not much, but there’s at least two men hiding out there, keeping watch. If I can see them, there have to be more of them I can’t see.”
“You think it’s more of those zombies?” Wesley actually sounded eager for a return engagement with the mindless natives.
“I don’t think so. They didn’t seem like the type to hide out and guard an entrance. There’s something else going on here. I think we’ve reached the end of the line.”
“Well, let’s go get ‘em then!” Wesley bobbed up and down on the balls of his feet. His near-death experience in the booby-trapped tunnel had not dampened his enthusiasm one bit.
“Not yet.” Kennedy despised inaction, but he wasn’t stupid. They needed intel. What waited for them out there? How many men? How were they armed? What was the key to Project Pan, and where was it?
“Yes, sir.” Wesley’s disappointment-soaked words were respectful. The man might be a pit bull, but he was a well-trained one. Good thing, too. Kennedy didn’t tolerate men who could not or would not follow orders.
“We’ll wait for dark. Our night vision goggles will give us a major advantage. I’ll take one of them alive if I can, and find out just what’s waiting for us out there. Then we’ll move in.” A grim smile crept across his face. He did not know if Maddock or Broderick had reached this place ahead of him. It would probably be an easier fight if they had not, but somehow, he hoped they were here. He had a bloodlust that needed to be satisfied.
Chapter 27
“You should see the pyramid. It’s really something.” Thomas’s speech was clipped and his expression grave. He was moving fast, as if he didn’t care if they kept up with him or not. When they reached the pyramid, he began climbing. “Watch your step.” He didn’t look back as he spoke. “It’s crumbling in places, but if you stay behind me, you’ll be all right.”
Dane wanted to tell him that they really weren’t interested in sightseeing right now, but he sensed Thomas had a purpose behind his actions, so he followed without complaint. When they had climbed about halfway, Thomas stopped, and indicated they should sit down.
“I’m sorry about the climb.” The words were interspersed with gasps as he sucked in air. “It’s steep, but necessary.” Finally composing himself, he drew in a few slow, measured breaths. “Anyway, this is the one place we can talk without anyone listening. Not everyone here speaks fluent English, only the Punics, but the natives all speak at least a little bit, and understand a lot. This way, we can have a bit of privacy, and can also watch to see if ScanoGen shows up. The way in is that way.” He pointed to the ridge on the far end of the valley.
“Tell us the story,” Dane said. “The whole story. We risked our lives to save you, and we deserve answers.”
“That’s why we’re up here.” Thomas would not meet his eye. “Where should I begin?”
“How much have you learned much about this place?” Bones asked.
“Quite a bit, actually. Fawcett is very talkative, and the others are fairly free with information since they know I’m no threat to escape. Kephises was founded by refugees from Carthage who escaped at the end of the third Punic War, just before the fall of Carthage itself. Those who survived the voyage made landfall far to the north, most likely near the southernmost regions of the Mayan empire. The first natives they encountered worshiped them as gods, and followed them into the jungle. Their leader was Hasdrubal, Hannibal Barca’s grandson.”
“That’s one of the things that confused me,” Dane said. “I didn’t think Hannibal had any children.”
“History has been hazy on that topic,” Thomas replied. “I suppose that’s because his only living descendant headed off to the Americas.” His thin smile only made him look more nervous. “Anyway, Hasdrubal was on a mission, given to him by the priesthood, to protect Carthage’s greatest treasure. When they arrived in the New World, he told the others that the gods would let him know when and where it was time to stop. They journeyed deeper and deeper into the jungle, picking up some native followers as they went, but losing their fair share of people along the way. When they finally found this place, he deemed it safe and remote enough to settle.
The tunnel, the Path of Five Steps, and the pyramid all were built over the generations using combined labor of the Punics and natives. That’s why the pyramid is a bit odd-looking. The Barcids wanted something like the pyramids of Egypt, but the pyramid has distinctly Mayan features, which is why I believe their first landfall was in or near Mayan territory.”
“So, the people who live here are a mix of Punics and Mayans?” It bothered Dane to feel like the ignorant half of a conversation with Kaylin’s boyfriend, but he wanted to hear the story nonetheless.
“Mostly. Also local natives, some of whom they collected as they went in search of this place, others they collected over the years. There seems to be something of a hierarchy here, depending on how much Punic blood one has, with the Barcids being the most pure. That’s actually how Fawcett came to find this place. I assume you found Wainwright?” They nodded. “The young man whom Percy Fawcett encountered was a Barcid who wanted to marry one of the low blood girls. That isn’t acceptable in that family. In fact, the only reason Jack Fawcett was permitted to marry into their line was because the husband of one of the women of the line had died. She was of late middle age and thought to be past childbearing years. Anyway, the young man and his lover escaped, and he took with him the secret to the five steps, and he also carved a rough map in stone. I suppose he thought they’d come back some day once they’d had a few children and it was too late for his family to do anything about it. If it hadn’t been for him, this place might still be a secret.” He lapsed into silence, gazing out across the valley.